General

How to access secure or encrypted email at SLAC

Table of Contents

Brief Description

This article describes how to open secure or encrypted emails when the mail is delivered to a non-SLAC email address. Secure email is typically used to send sensitive data. For example, SLAC IT will commonly send a secure email to communicate new SLAC account information such as passwords.

How Secure Email Works

Messages sent through the primary outgoing mail servers with "Secure:" in the subject line—regardless of its position—are handled by the Secure Email service to ensure secure delivery.

Delivery Methods

Trusted Domains

  • Encrypted emails sent to trusted domains will be encrypted and delivered directly like standard messages. Trusted domains include:
    • stanford.edu (if not forwarded externally or to a departmental address)
    • slac.stanford.edu

Untrusted Domains

  • Messages sent to non-trusted domains, including forwarded stanford.edu accounts, are encrypted and sent as attachments. Recipients must open the message and enter their previously registered password to access the content. Untrusted domains include:
    • gmail.com , yahoo.com , aol.com, outlook.com
    • non-SLAC or Stanford email accounts

Opening or Receiving Secure Email

A secure email from SLAC will include the term "Secure:" in the subject line.

Secure email sent to your Stanford or SLAC email address will appear as any other email message. Messages received  by any other domain for example Gmail, Yahoo, etc. will show the email subject containing "Secure:" and the mail content will appear as an attachment. To retrieve the message you will need to register the email address the secure email was sent to. You will only need to register once afterwards you can use the same password you used to register to retrieve your message.

How to Register for Secure Email

  1. Within the Secure email click on the "Click here" link to access the registration form

screenshot of stanford secure message registration form

  1. Fill out the registration form

screenshot of Stanford secure email registration form

  1. After registration is complete you will then be able to open the attachment (Secure email)